KUALA LUMPUR, 25 July - The Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Works (KKR), Public Works Department (JKR), Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and Board of Engineers (BEM) organised a Global Civil Engineering Conference (2017 GCEC ) to highlight the importance of local civil engineers.

The Minister of Works, Dato’ Sri Fadillah Yusof, said that “The construction industry has indeed a bright future in leading the country’s development industry.”

He also commented that, “Knowing the global situation, the Ministry of Works, through CIDB has taken proactive steps to develop the Construction Industry Transformation Programme (CITP) to strengthen the country’s development industry in line with the 11th Malaysian Plan.”

While Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini Ideris, the Vice Chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia believed that civil engineering is an important aspect in the daily lives of each individual.

“Sustainable development is defined as a development that fulfils today’s needs without compromising the needs of the future generation,” she added.

She added that, “Civil engineering policies should be acknowledged because the environment and a country’s development cannot be separated.”

On another note, the theme for the 2017 GCEC known as ‘Steering Global Sustainability through Civil Engineering’ is appropriate with the development industry, which is often highly competitive and pressured by various investors.